The Irish Independent and other Independent News and Media titles have been nominated for a large number of awards in the annual event to celebrate excellence in journalism.

Political Correspondent Niall O'Connor has been nominated in three categories - Political Journalist of the Year, Political Story of the Year and Young Journalist of the Year, where colleague Amy Molloy is also nominated.

Conor Feehan and Sarah MacDonald are in the running for News Reporter of the Year. Ms MacDonald is also in contention for Scoop of the Year for her story on Archbishop Diarmuid Martin removing priests from Maynooth seminary.

Crime reporter Robin Schiller is shortlisted for crime story of the year - with Philip Ryan of the 'Sunday Independent' nominated in the same category. Mr Ryan is also in contention for Political Story of the Year.

Three INM staff are battling it out for Sports Story of the Year. They are the Irish Independent's Martin Breheny, Alan Sherry of the 'Sunday World' and John Greene of the 'Sunday Independent' while Vincent Hogan is nominated for sports journalist of the year.

Maeve Sheehan and Graham Clifford get the nod for the Features category for broadsheet, with Ms Sheehan also up for the Investigative Journalist award.

Irish Independent on Saturday 'Review' writer John Meagher and 'Sunday Independent' business editor Samantha McCaughren, are up for the Business Story award, with Gene Kerrigan of the 'Sunday Independent' nominated for Broadsheet Columnist and the 'Sunday World's Lynda McCarthy up for the Popular Columnist award.

INM showbiz editor Melanie Finn will fight it out with the 'Sunday World's Eugene Masterson for Showbiz Journalist of the Year.

Two 'Sunday World' reporters, Nicola Tallant and Patrick O'Connell, are also up for Crime Journalist of the Year.